ReadWriteThink
This site is provided by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. It provides teachers and students with lessons, information on standards, materials and a list of quality web sites on reading.

Young People’s Poetry Week
The third week in April in Young People’s Poetry Week. Perfect time to highlight the library’s collection of underused but fantastic poetry books.

Bookshelf: Children’s Books in Brief
Another quick glimpse at new children’s books from The New York Times. Registration required.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
A new version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be released in June 2005. Johnny Depp will star as Willy Wonka, directed by Tim Burton. For more articles on the film, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Lite Brite
I always like to find good websites to let kids play on. This one is the old toy Lite Brite from my childhood without the sore fingers from poking those plastic pieces through the paper. No popup ads, no ads at all, just a simple game to share with kids.
Via Metafilter.

NOW with Bill Moyers
Tonight on NOW with Bill Moyers (and usually repeated sometime over the weekend) Bill Moyers will interview Maurice Sendak about his new book, Brundibar.
The NOW website has articles up about Brundibar as well as censorship of children’s literature.

Scripps Howard News Service
“This month, Scholastic Books rolls out a new Nancy Drew series featuring a fresh version of everyone’s favorite girl detective _ with quite a few notable changes.”
What changes? Well, they are now written in first person, rather than third. Nancy is a little older now, out of high school. Best of all, the first four volumes have an introductory price of 99 cents!
Via [places for writers].

Independent.co.uk — Education
“The novels of Philip Pullman, which have been condemned as blasphemous by some critics, should form part of pupils’ religious education, the Archbishop of Canterbury said in a speech made public yesterday.
Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, which was partly inspired by Milton’s Paradise Lost, should be used by teachers to address the “inadequacy” of some religious education courses, Dr Rowan Williams told a meeting of religious leaders and academics hosted by Tony Blair at Downing Street on Monday.”

Coming Soon! – Latest News
“Judy Blume, one of the world’s best loved authors (“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” “Blubber,” “Superfudge,” and “Deenie,” among others), filmmaker Lawrence Blume, and renowned producer Jane Startz (Ella Enchanted) have entered into a multi-picture deal with The Walt Disney Studios to develop and produce films based on Judy Blume’s bestselling books for young people, it was announced today by Nina Jacobson, president of the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group. Under the terms of the deal, the Blumes’ Tashmoo Productions Inc. and Jane Startz Productions, Inc. will adapt several of Blume’s books, beginning with Deenie, Blume’s acclaimed bestseller about a young woman’s struggles to define herself independently from the dreams and expectations her parents have for her.”
Via ACHOCKABLOG.